During the 1950s, Robin Roberts was on par with the best pitchers in the National League, most notably Warren Spahn, who won more games in the ‘50s than any other pitcher. Spahn posted 202 victories from 1950 to ’59, and Roberts was neck-and-neck with him all the way as he went 199-149 with the Philadelphia Phillies. Though an avid Cubs fan growing up in southern Illinois, Roberts was signed by the Philadelphia Phillies in 1948 at the age of 21. By 1950, the year of the Whiz Kids, Roberts was the ace of the staff, going 20-11 in 39 starts. For the first of six straight seasons, he led the NL in starts, and the following year he proved to be a workhorse, leading the NL in innings pitched for the first of five straight. Robin Roberts reportedly possessed one of the best fastballs in all of baseball, according to multiple Hall of Famers. Pittsburgh slugger Ralph Kiner described it as “the best I ever saw … (it) would rise around six or eight inches, and with plenty on it.” Mr. Cub thought his fastball was better than Bob Gibson’s. But it was his work ethic and durability that kept him on the mound for 19 years and he posted a 286-245 record, a 3.41 ERA, 2,357 strikeouts, 305 complete games, 45 shutouts and 25 saves with four different clubs, including his beloved Cubs. This sensational 1951 Philadelphia Phillies Robin Roberts game-used road jersey should be on every memorabilia collector’s radar. Because he likely only pitched every fifth day, the jersey has remained in fabulous condition, though it does offer the wonderful light staining you would expect for a gamer including the off-color sweat-soiled collar. The foremost expert in game-used uniforms and equipment, Dave Grob of SGC, has completely reviewed and inspected this rare Roberts game-used jersey and assessed it as Excellent. According to Resolution Photomatching, the images used were all taken at the Polo Grounds when the Phillies faced the Giants as Roberts faced New York three times in the Big Apple. This photo-matched 74-year-old jersey is vibrant with all original red chenille on white tackle twill “Phillies” name across the chest and Roberts' “36” number on the back, also chenille on twill, each of which has defied expected aging and decay. The original Wilson 44 sizing tag is affixed to the front left tail and the felt strip embroidered “Roberts – 51” is still intact in the collar. Stitch imperfections have been matched at multiple spots on the “Phillies” front logo and the #3 of Roberts “36” on the back, all of which have been listed on the Resolution Photomatching LOA included with the four undated exemplar images. The LOA also presents side-by-side images aligning spots and lines from the exemplars, and the jersey. This is one of the finest Robin Roberts game-used jerseys in existence that isn't in the Hall of Fame, to be sure. Uniquely connected with Grover Cleveland Alexander, when Robin was in eighth grade, Grover (a remorseful alcoholic) made an appearance at his sports banquet where he gave a brief speech that had little to do with baseball but warned them of the dangers of drinking. In an ironic twist, Robin was the first Phillies 20-game winner since Alexander; he became the Phillies all-time win leader (191) in 1958… passing Alexander; and was the first Phillie since G.C. Alexander to earn enshrinement in Cooperstown in 1976.